Charges Filed in Swastika Incident

The Inyo County District Attorneys office has filed felony vandalism charges against 20 year old Big Pine resident Ryan Jones. Jones is accused of painting a number of swastikas and other Nazi symbols around Big Pine on Sunday night.

The swastikas could be found on fences and signs along Bartell. A large swastika was painted on a wall at Big Pine High School. At Mendenhall Park the vandal painted a swastika on the slide at the childrens’ playground.

It was at the Park that Inyo Sheriff Deputies report that a witness saw a suspect passed out, possibly intoxicated. The suspect was gone when Deputies arrived, but Officers report that the witness saw the suspect go home.

Deputies say that when they went to the residence indicated by the witness, they found 20 year old Big Pine resident Ryan Jones. Officers allege that Jones had similar spray paint on his t-shirt.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Johnson reports that Jones has been charged with five counts of felony vandalism. Johnson also reports that this is the third felony case against Jones pending in the court system right now. He also faces charges of alleged vehicle theft and alleged grand theft for separate incidents, according to Johnson.